Copying attachment



M. 1 swlR A 2,303,006

COPYING ATTACHMENT JJM J Novyz'4, 1942.

` Filed Jan'. 91, 1941 g sheewpsheet 1 IlvZ 1 lll" L ji/[0rd Sw/re,

Nov. 24, 1942. M. l.. swlRE l .COPYING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED?STATES. PATENT H'CPmjmNT ,i

Montar.. swire, Utica, N. Y., assigmrfoV Eiie G. Swre, Utica, N. Y.

, lApplication January 9, 1941, seria1No..373,s49lmj s2 claims. (creo-13.2);-

YThis invention relates tofa Vcopying attachment l forplaning, shaping, grinding and like machines, and has more particular reference to an attachment of this kind in which a rotary cutter is guided in'its work path by a tracer point directed by a master model or patiiern.M

The primary object of the present invention isvto provide an attachment of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, readily attachable to the desired machine, highly eicient in use, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the requirement for a successful commercial use.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partly broken away, illustrating an embodiment of thepresent invention applied to a metal planing machine. Y

Figure 2 is a.v horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on line of Figure 3.

In the drawings, 5 indicates the usual work table of a planing machine, to which horizontal reciprocating movement is imparted by the ordinary means. The planing machine further includes the usual tool support 6 carried by a. tool head 'I which is ordinarily transversely or hori-` zontally movable in a rail vertically movable on columns, not shown. Also, the usual verticaltransverse feed (not shown) is provided for setting the rail with its tool head at the desired height above the work table and'forfeeding the tool head transversely of the work table.

The present attachment includes a motor support 8 in the form of a shelf bracket adapted to be attached to a support such as the tool support 6 or the tool bar of a milling machine or the like. The motor support 8 has side iianges formed with conical bearing recesses 9 receiving the conical end of bearing screws I of a frame II so as to mount the latter for free vertical swinging movement. This frame I I includes spaced rigidly connected arms having parallel rear end portions through which the bearing screws IIJ are threaded, and having forwardly diverging end portions terminating at their forward ends in split transversely alined clamps I2. The clamps I2 receive and grip the ends of a transverse' bar II 3 on which are mounted spaced heads I4 and I5. The head I 4 includes .avertical fclamping sleeve "which is'grippeda holderV Il 'zcarryinga tracerlpoint or stylus I1. vertical clamping sleevefhas an attached split'clamp I8Y embracingV and 4gripping thetool bar I3. l'Ihehea'dr .I`5'also includes 4a vertical clamping sleevey having jan attached `split clamp I8 embracingA andV gripping thetoolA bar I3. In addition, the vertical clamping sleeve of head i receives and grips a'cylindrical bearing sleeve I9 in which is journaled the spindle Eil of a rotary cutter 2l which may be in the form of a grinding or milling tool. The upper end of spindle projects above the bearing sleeve I3 and head I5 and is of polygonal form as indicated at 22. This polygonalend portion 22 of f spindle 20 is fitted and secured within a similarly shaped socket 23 provided on one end of a flexible shaft 24 so as to provide a detachable driving connection between said flexible shaft and said spindle. 'Ihe flexible shaft 24 is connected at its other end to the drive shaft 25 of an electric motor 26 Vmounted upon the upper shelf "portion of the motor support. It will thus be seen that the tracer point I'I and cutter 2| are mounted for a free -or floating vertical movement. The frame II which carries the tracer point and cutter heads I4and I5 is counterbalanced adjustably so that the pressure of the tracer point against the master model` or pattern P may be regulated, and the counterbalancing means may consist of a vertically swinging arm 21 pivotally mounted as at 28 intermediate its ends upon the upper end of the upwardly extending portion of an angular bracket 29 attached to the motor support 3. The arm or lever 21 overlies the motor 26 and has its forward end member or link. Longitudinally adjustable on the other end of lever 2 is a counterweight 3 I.

In use, the pattern P and work W are secured upon the table 5 and the tracer point I1 and cutter 2l are lowered with the tracer point l'I near the left side of the pattern as viewed in Figure 3 and with the cutter 2I engaged with the work. As the table 5 is reciprocated and the attachment is fed transversely to the right of Figure 3, the work will be gradually cut away in accordance with the contour of the pattern followed by the tracer point I'I. In following this contour, the frame II and parts carried thereby will have a free vertical floating movement. It will thus be seen that the cutter will operate upon the work for accurately reproducing or copying the pattern or master model.

With slight modification or by the use of a simple special bracket, the attachment may be applied to a, grinding or milling machine, attachment being made to the bar of the machine instead of to the tool support of a printing machine as shown. By using a grinding tool instead of a milling tool at 2|, the attachment can be used for nish grinding any irregular or regular surface automatically.

It will be seen that the present attachment is well adapted for carrying out the stated objects of the invention, and it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of minor changes in details of construction Without de'- parting from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A copying attachment for'planing or like machines, comprising a shelf bracket, means to secure said bracket to the tool support or like Yelement of the machine, a frame pivoted at one end to the lower portion of "said bracket for vertical floating movement, a transverse tool bar carried by the other end of said frame, spaced heads carried by said tool bar, a tracer point carried by one of said heads, a rotary cutter carried by the 'other head, means for driving said cutter including a motor mounted on said bracket and a ilexible shaft connecting the drive shaft of said motor with said rotary cutter, said frame comprising a pair of spaced rigidly connected arms having parallel end portions, bearing screws threaded through said end portions, said bracket having side flanges provided with bearing recesses receiving said bearing screws.

2. A copying attachment for planing or like machines, comprising a shelf bracket, means to secure said bracket to the tool support or like element of the machine, a frame pivoted at one end to the lower portion of said bracket for vertical floating movement, a transverse tool bar carried by the other end of said frame, spaced heads carried by said tool bar, a tracer point carried by one of said heads, a rotary cutter carried :by the other head, and means for driving said cutter including a motor mounted on said Abracket and a flexible shaft connecting the drive shaft of said motor with said rotary cutter, said :frame comprising spaced rigidly connected arms having forwardly ldii/'erging portions terminating in transversely alined split clamps, a transverse tool barV received by and gripped in said clamps, said heads having split clamps embracing and gripping said tool bar.

MORRIS L. SWIRE. 

